Call for major upgrade of waterways to get freight off roads and onto rivers and canals to cut pollution
The Commercial Boat Operators Association, the Canal & River Trust, the Inland Waterways Association and the Port of London Authority are working together to kickstart what they believe will be a ârevolutionâ in the way that goods are transferred around the country.
The aim is to get more freight off roads, where traffic pollution is known to cause severe health problems in built-up areas, and onto freight carriers on the UKâs rivers and canals.
âThe problem is weâre using 19th century infrastructure to solve 21st century problems,â said John Spencer, Director of GPS Marine, the largest multi-cargo intra-port barge operator on the River Thames and Medway, âbut as an individual company weâve been hitting our heads against a brick wall. Weâre now working with major canal and river organisations to get this movingâ.
The Port of London Authority has just launched a new consultation and vision for the Thames. The river is already the UKâs busiest inland waterway. Thames Vision 2050 identifies the development of Trading Thames as a priority, with strong long-term potential for using the river to connect the deep-sea port outside London with customers and consumers within London.
âThe transfer of traffic from trucks to barges can play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality, and supporting the broader government objective to achieve net zero and mitigate climate change,â commented Richard Parry, Chief Executive of the Canal & River Trust.
Between them, these organisations are approaching the Department for Transport, Defra and relevant select committees, aiming to deepen understanding of the opportunity and what needs to be done to make the most of it.
Our waterways as a route to greener freight transport in the UK was covered in the February 2022 edition of Logistics Manager. Click here to have a read